The following series of winter religious holidays was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Winter 2009 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

If you’re putting the finishing touches on a winter wonderland of figgy pudding, jingling bells, and neatly wrapped presents, you’re in good company. Each year, about 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas. That’s more than 9 out of every 10 people in the United States! Of course, Christmas comes in a variety of packages: Santa and his sleigh, Jesus and his manger, the Grinch and his itty-bitty heart. So just what is the real Christmas story? And what are some of the holy nights that the other 7% of Americans are celebrating this winter? Set aside those gingerbread cookies and read this holiday list (we checked it twice!).

Christianity

Holiday: Christmas

Date: December 25

Main Players: Jesus Christ

The Story: You probably know that Jesus – not Santa – is the reason for Christmas. But when was the last time you heard the real Christmas story? The story is pieced in the Bible’s New Testament. These stories tell of Joseph and his fiancée Mary, a virgin who became pregnant. An angel told Mary she was pregnant with God’s son. The couple had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, so they could be counted in the government’s census. They reached an inn in Bethlehem, but it was full. So the innkeeper let them stay in the stable with the animals. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. Three magi, called “Wise Men,” came to the inn, where they gave him gifts. Jesus Christ would go on to let the world know he was God, die on a cross, and spark the beginning of Christianity.

Traditions: From Christmas cards and stockings to Rudolph and his reindeer, you could probably list a mile of Christmas traditions. But three stick out that relate directly to Jesus’ birth: -Christians walk around town singing Christmas carols about the birth of Jesus. -Churches often put up nativity scenes, displays of the scene at Jesus’ birth. -Christians give gifts to one another, just as the Wise Men gave gifts to Jesus.

Other installments in this series:
-Buddhism: Bodhi Day
-Judaism: Hanukkah
-Islam: Ashura
-Hinduism: Vasant Panchami (to come)

Other holidays this winter:
-Islam: Hijra (December 18)
-Wicca: Winter Solstice (December 21)
-Shinto: Gantan-sai (January 1)
-Baha’i: World Religion Day (January 17)
-Buddhism/Confucianism: Chinese New Year (February 14)

Created by Religion Transcends, 2009

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The following overview of the Amish was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Fall 2009 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

See a PDF of the article here: Fall 09 Religion

Which would you choose? To wear jeans, own a telephone, go to high school – and live away from your family for the rest of your life? Or to wear long dresses, quit school after eighth grade, live without electricity – and stay close to your family and friends. Tough decision, huh? But this is the choice that every Amish teenager must make.

Many people recognize the Amish as a simple group of people who drive horses and buggies and dress plain. But the life of an Amish teenager isn’t quite so plain and simple. At only 16, teens must begin to decide whether to remain Amish, a choice that will affect the rest of their lives. Here are the questions they must consider.

Where did I come from?

In 1693 in Europe, founder Jacob Amman and others decided to break away from other Christian groups and form their own religious sect. They called themselves “Amish” after Amman. In the 18^th century, the Amish moved to America where all Amish live today – about 231,000 Amish in 28 states. Within their communities you may find Old Order Amish who maintain old traditions and new orders who may drive cars or use machines.

What do I believe?

As Christians, the Amish believe in God and Jesus. They also believe:

• The Bible is God’s word.
• Worship should be held in a house every other Sunday for three hours. Christmas and Easter may be celebrated, along with other holy days.

• Sinful members should be shunned (no one may talk to them) and perhaps even kicked out of the community until they confessed.

The Amish also stay separate from the rest of the world so they can focus on God. To show they are different, they wear plain clothes (dresses, suits, and hats); speak a different language (Pennsylvania Dutch), and do not participate in government. They also reject all technology including electricity, cars, radios, telephones, computers and TVs.

What will I do all day?

Amish teens go to school in one-room schoolhouses with no electricity. There are usually three or four students in each grade and everyone has the same teacher. Subjects usually include English, Math, Health and History. Kids play sports during recess but do not have extracurricular activities. The biggest difference between Amish schools and “English” schools is that the Amish are only allowed to go to school through eighth grade. After that, boys find jobs in factories or work on the family farm or in the family business. Unmarried girls may work in nearby homes or in Amish shops. Once women marry, they must stay home and maintain the house.

Can I talk to non-Amish people?

The Amish mostly only talk to other Amish – but not always. For example, tourists often come to Amish communities to purchase goods or to get a glimpse at a different lifestyle. Though it may be uncomfortable to be stared at, Clinical Psychologist James A. Cates, PhD (who works with Amish in the Elkhart-LaGrange settlement in Indiana), says the Amish are happy to interact with the “English” (non-Amish). However, the Amish are unlikely to develop deep relationships with the “English.” And they usually would not allow anyone to take pictures or video of them.

Amish teens typically date other Amish teens – but not always. Cates said some Amish teens date “English” teens “to drive their parents crazy.” But when it comes to marriage, the Amish may only marry other Amish (or risk being shunned).

Making the decision

When Amish teens turn 16, they enter Rumspringa, a time when they are released from Amish rules and restrictions. They may skip church, use technology, wear jeans and experiment with “English” activities. This freedom helps them to figure out if they want to be Amish or “English” for the rest of their lives.

“This is their time,” Cates said. “If they’re going to return to the Amish church, this is the only time in their lives in which they are free not to be under the expectations of the Amish church.”

For some, this immediate opportunity to break the rules can be too much to handle. In the 2002 film The Devil’s Playground, Amish teens from the Elkhart-LaGrange community were shown abusing drugs and burning buggies. Cates said this isn’t how most teens act during Rumspringa. But the film caused enough of a stir that Cates was approached to develop classes to help Amish teens who have been arrested.  His program is called the Amish Youth Vision Project. In three years, 240 Amish teens from Elkhart and LaGrange counties have completed the program. Cates said it has helped them to understand the dangers of peer pressure and alcohol use.

When Rumspringa is over, around age 20, Amish teens make a choice to either return to the Amish community or enter the world on their own. According to Cates, 95% return to the Amish lifestyle. At that time, they are baptized, join the church, and give up all “English” items and activities.

What you can learn from the Amish

The Amish stick close together, support their family and friends, and maintain a strong religious identity.

“It’s easy to look at the horse and buggy, the plain clothes, the way of living, and that’s what strikes us first,” Cates said. “If you look beyond that, there’s a powerful sense of Christian community at its best.”

Want to see what an Amish community really looks like? Take a trip to local Amish areas like Jamesport, in Northwestern Missouri (www.jamesport.net), or Arthur, Illinois (www.illinoisamishcountry.com). Can’t road trip? Read Amish Society by John A. Hostetler.

Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009

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You’ve probably heard by now that Pope Benedict XVI has authorized groups of Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church. The measure is part of an “Apostolic Constitution.”  Basically this measure allows certain Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining certain traditions – the Book of Common Prayer, married priests, etc.

Why are Anglicans leaving?
The Anglican community has had a bit of a shake-up across the world, the result of a series of controversial decisions:
• The ordination of women (to become deacons/priests)
• The blessing of same-sex unions
• The election of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopalian Church (U.S. Anglicans)

Learn more about the sexuality/clergy debate on ReligionTrascends.com.

Some Anglicans prefer that the Anglican Church reform itself rather than lose its members to the Catholic arena. If changes are not made, as many as 1,000 Anglican priests could be heading to the Catholic Church.

What’s the big deal?
The big deal is that this flies in the face of history. The Anglican Church began in the 6th century as a part of the Roman Catholic Church (the English portion, since Anglican means “of England”). When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Catholic Church in 1517, he sparked a number of reformations and separations that would later come to be called the Protestant Reformation. It was around this time that discontent among Anglicans came to a head. Then in 1536, Henry VIII formally separated the Anglican Church from Roman rule. Some like to point to the Pope’s refusal to grant Henry VIII a divorce as the final straw. But the Anglican Church points to a number of issues Henry VIII had with Roman rule, divorce being just one issue among the many.  Reuniting the churches or merely pulling dissatisfied Anglicans into the Catholic fold seems to indicate a reversal of heated positions taken in the 16th century. But the Vatican seems to be attempting to ignore the politics of the past to bring unhappy church-goers into a church they can enjoy. Of course, this brings up a number of questions:
1. How will priests who have taken a vow of chastity feel about preaching alongside married priests?
2. Is this really just about getting numbers into the Catholic Church?
3. Should the ordination of women and the election of openly gay bishops be enough to cause Anglican priests to break with their tradition?
4. At what point should an Anglican priest give up the prayer books and adopt Catholic practices?

Despite stark differences, both groups do share roots in the Bible and in historical Christianity. We hope the two churches can continue to work together to realize their similarities and find compromise amidst politics. Perhaps in the process they can also bring members who have been flung aside back into the fold, transcending exclusivity in favor of love.

Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009

Filed under: Catholicism, Christianity, Religion and Ethics | 1 Comment »

Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu were awarded the Fetzer Institute’s Prize for Love and Forgiveness. The prize was presented at the 2009 Peace Summit in Vancouver.

The award honors their work to bring love, compassion, and forgiveness to others. The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu have a history of promoting these qualities in the lives of others and reflecting those qualities themselves.

Desmond Tutu of Cape Town, South Africa, opposed apartheid and led nonviolent opposition to the system in South Africa. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and later worked with the United Nations on various human rights issues. He is an Anglican (Christian) leader.

Learn about the Dalai Lama on Religion Transcends. He is a Tibetan Buddhist, leader of the government in exile, and a successor in the line of Buddha.

“Love, compassion and forgiveness have the power to change, the power to heal and the power to transform any situation—no matter how violent or troubled—into something that is generative and life-giving,” said Tom Beech, president and CEO of the Institute. “The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu are renowned, revered, respected and loved the world over. In giving this award, the Fetzer Institute celebrates their humanity and the consistency with which their lives stand for compassion in the face of isolation, love in the face of fear and forgiveness in the face of violence.”

The two men are actually great friends. The award thus represents their ability to work together and love one another despite their religious differences. It also honors their compassion for the world, transcending religious differences and caring about the heart of the human being. Their lives are proof that compassion can bring about kind acts, regardless of religion. Their work is proof that acts tied to the world’s religions can be positive and transformative.

Congratulations to both of these men. Thank you for your loving acts of service and for showing the world that religious folk can rise above judgment and limitations.

Learn more about Fetzer Institute online.

Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009 (with quotes from Fetzer)

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A recent survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life asked Americans whether they believe in Heaven and Hell. While 74% believe in Heaven, just 59% said they believe in Hell.

In 1999, the late Pope John Paul II said Hell is simply separation from God. Other Christians believe Hell is a physical place where you are punished in a sea of fire. Read some of the arguments in USA Today.

Here are some New Testament Bible verses about Hell:

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28 (NIV)

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him – Luke 12:5 (NIV)

Here are some surahs from the Qur’an:

In order that Allah may separate the impure from the pure, put the impure, one on another, heap them together, and cast them into Hell. They will be the ones to have lost. –8:37

Take not, with Allah, another object of worship, lest thou shouldst be thrown into Hell — 17:39

It is he whom Allah guides, that is on true Guidance; but he whom He leaves astray – for such wilt thou find no protector besides Him. On the Day of Judgment We shall gather, them together, prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf: their abode will be Hell: every time it shows abatement, We shall increase from them the fierceness of the Fire. – 17:97

Your turn:

Do you believe in Hell? What do you think Hell is? And why do you suppose many Americans no longer believe in the concept? Too scary? They like to think of everyone going to Heaven?

Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009

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In June, Catholic bishops got together to revise an outdated letter, adding new language about the importance of sharing the story of Jesus with others. The revisions called for Christians to share their faith with Jews, without “proselytizing” the Jewish people.

Though the pope has said that Jews are God’s chosen people according to Biblical covenants, some Jews think this new language implies they need to convert to Christianity to go to Heaven.

Judaism: Anger over conversion attempts

Jewish groups including the American Jewish Committee and rabbis from all three major movements of Judaism wrote a letter to the bishops. They wrote that their relationship with Catholics is at risk thanks to the revised statements.

The Jewish leaders said they wanted to be able to have dialogue with Catholics without Catholics trying to convert them to Christianity.

Hinduism: Anger over conversion attempts
In 2008, violence erupted all over India between Hindus and Christians, much of which continues today. The violence concerned Christians’ attempts to convert Hindus in the country, where Hinduism is the major religion. Learn more about the Hindu argument here.

So what do you think? Do other religions have a right to be angry at conversion attempts? Should Christians continue to convert others? Is there a way to share your beliefs without proselytizing?

Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009

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The Islamic Society of North America is an association of and for Muslims in North America. The group draws something like 30,000 Muslims together every year at its annual convention.

This past weekend at the annual event, Evangelical Christian Pastor Rick Warren spoke, along with Conservative and Reform Judaism representatives who have recently formed partnerships with the society.

This marks a turning point for the organization. According to USA Today, Christian and Jewish groups have stayed away from the convention in the past, speaking out against hostility and violence committed by Muslims against their followers.

But the group has denounced terrorism and seeks two states for Israel – one for Jews, one for Muslims. The Islamic Society saw their convention as a chance to reach out and make peace.

Still, Warren’s appearance at the event may seem controversial to some…though it wouldn’t be the first controversial thing he’s ever done.

The Associated Press reports that Warren addressed the controversy in his speech:

“It’s easier to be an extremist of any kind because then you only have one group of people mad at you,” he said. “But if you actually try to build relationships — like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering – you’ll get criticized for it. So will I.”

Warren urged Muslims and Christians to work together to tackle major world problems and to speak out against stereotyping of religious groups.

In other news…

Muslim and Christian relations haven’t been all sunny this week. In Pakistan, Muslims reportedly attacked 110 Christian homes.

Are you hopeful about the future of Muslim-Christian relations?

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U.S. President Barack Obama will be meeting with the pope in Rome on Friday. In preparation for his trip, he met with a group of religion reporters last Thursday.

Reporters represented Catholic News Service, the National Catholic Reporter, America magazine, The Washington Post, Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, Commonweal magazine, and Vatican Radio.

Obama’s recent comments include the following:

- He “continues to be profoundly influenced by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago.”

- He plans to continue reviewing conscience clause regulations that allow people who are opposed to abortions to decline providing them.

- He wants to establish a good relationship with bishops.

- He is eager to meet the pope and hopes it will lead to continued cooperation.

- He receives a devotional prayer from his faith-based office chief every morning.

Find links to transcripts through USA Today.

Learn more about Catholicism on Religion Transcends.

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In May, we noted that PBS might remove its name from several U.S. television stations that were airing religious broadcasting. (Public stations aren’t permitted to air religious programming.)

UPDATE: In June, the PBS national board voted to ban any new religious programming from PBS stations. Stations that are currently violating the rule by airing religious programming may continue to air that religious programming. (There were only 6 stations in question.)

In March, we noted that Elected Episcopal Bishop Kevin Thew Forrester (of the Northern Michigan diocese) practices Zen meditation and is lay-ordinated in Buddhism. He has not, however, taken Buddhist vows nor does he consider himself a Buddhist. He claims to simply borrow practices from Zen Buddhism to guide his Christian meditation on God. But many Episcopalians were trying to prevent Forrester from becoming fully ordained as bishop.

UPDATE: In June, leaders of the Episcopal Church did, indeed, deny consecration to Forrester. Thus, though he was elected bishop, leaders did not confirm his leadership. He will not be a bishop. According to Christianity Today, this is the first time since the 1930s that someone’s election as bishop has been vetoed by denominational leaders of any Christian denomination.

Ann Holmes Redding was also defrocked by the Episcopal Church (and did not recant) for changing her beliefs to Islam.

Bookmark Religion Transcends today to keep finding religion news and updates of past stories. And watch us on Twitter (@religionblogger) for more quick news bites.

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Some churches around the world have moved toward online giving – church attendees can go online, tithe a certain amount of money, and have that money pulled directly from their bank accounts or credit cards. It’s especially popular with parachurches, where one megachurch is at the center and satellite churches watch the services on television. And while the trend has made giving easier for some, Ministry Today reports that “many Christians remain hesitant to use a method they believe is susceptible to fraud, theft, and error.”

The magazine claims online giving is secure and makes it easier to make recurring gifts to a church. This is also helpful for church leaders – if they know member X will be giving $50 a month, they can plan ahead for how to use those funds.

On the other hand, the magazine warns that online giving makes it easy to forget the importance of developing face-to-face relationships with congregants and thanking those people for their gifts to God/the church.

What do you think? Is online giving a scam? Or is it a convenient tool for giving?

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends

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